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How You Can Help Social Security Protect Others

Scams have become an unfortunate part of doing business online or via phone. Many people have received a call or voicemail from someone warning them that their Social Security number or benefits are suspended due to suspicious activity. It’s an alarming scam and one we must help people identify so that they do not become the next victim.

We, at Social Security, are serious about protecting the information entrusted to us. In the past year, we’ve posted a series of blogs about how our beneficiaries can protect their information from scammers and what to do when they receive a call from someone pretending to be us.

We believe that knowing how to tell the difference between a scam and a genuine call from Social Security is important. You can help us protect the people you serve. These are some things to remember:

Don’t answer calls from numbers you don’t recognize.

Never give out personal information such as your account numbers, passwords, Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, or other identifying information if a call seems suspicious.

Government employees will not threaten to take away benefits or ask for money or personal information to protect your Social Security card or benefits.

If you receive a call from someone asking for your Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card information, don’t engage this caller. Instead, hang up and report that information to the Office of Inspector General via their online fraud-reporting form. You should also report these calls to the Federal Trade Commission.

Scammers are hard at work every day. Together, we can help safeguard the American public. Please help us spread the word.

I received a call Friday it got me So upset that I barely could talk
Asked the last 4 of my social
Was my address the same and to verify it asked me if I had ever been ito Texas
“ I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO TEXAS “ If I’d ever had my wallet stolen or lost
“ YES MANY YEARS AGO “
Told me my identification was being used in Texas and that theirs two drug charges on me and a bust on an apartment found information on me They Said but Unfortunately no one was there that they found very large amounts of drugs and money The car was found at the border registered in my name said Texas has a Warrant and currently looking for me
I can’t even explain how I’m feeling at this Point
Asked me what time would I be available the next day I said 11
They said and associate of Social Security and the sheriff were going to bring me all the documentation on everything inTexas
That my Social Security number had been cancelled immediately they said When they Came they will go through all of the documentation paperwork and will be issuing me a new one

How true! These scams look enticing but we have to be absolutely cautious by understanding them and not to accede to their criminal mindsets.
More training or advice should be done for those who are vulnerable.
Thankfully I am fully aware of the messages that you send out regularly to inform all recipients of these scams

At moment am talking to s persin supposedly from CSBG. He says him named is Jim Thompson. He says they want to charge me $500. to receive a $50,000. dollar grant. Told him I didn’t have the money but he sais I could pay them on the 12th of this month. I thought to get grant money you didn’t have to pay any money. He said it was for ship and handling.

Concerns-In connection w/Equifax issues, one is recommended to the Fed Trade Assoc where they can find out if your account has been hacked. You are asked for your last name and the last 6 #s of your SSN. This is extremely troubling for those of us w/disabilities. Would you please advise as to what one should do?

This is great information to have and to know about, yes, I have been scammed by a computer company and I was taken for $1,295.I did notify the federal trade commission.
Thank you for the information and I will be looking into it.

I wish reporting a scam call were easier to do. The FTC at least, though easy to find, has a very long form to fill out. I get so many that I’d never have time for anything else! I had a scam call this morning that threatened to close the account. I have a call blocker but still get way too many. If more people reported maybe there would be less of these alarming scam calls. I let the answering machine do the call screening, about 99% are hang ups. I’ve been fooled a few times mainly tech support BS, but worth about missing important calls from doctors that use anonymous caller it’s to with good intentions are just protecting patients’ privacy! Thanks for trying to educate people from being scammed but technology is sorely lagging to prevent hackers from quickly out smarting the small steps blocking and reporting scams. Sigh…

I went to the social security office with In the last two weeks. Since then i have halved three calls about me being arrested. Is someone in the Swansee office in IL selling the info. Strange i never received these calls until i went to the social security office.
Ron Brown

I had two calls today informing me that social security s said I had been involved in fraud activity. I called back and said they were scams and not call me again. Last week I had five calls in one day and they said they had warrants out for my arrest due to my fraudulent activity. They didn’t leave a phone number then.

I got 3 calls like that this week. Said they had an arrest warrant on me for fraudulent activity involving my SSN. Told me to dial 1 to connect to the law enforcement officer handling the case….Never got through to a live person…. I than hung up

How do I know that YOU are not a fraud? Or some kind of scam? You are asking for the same information as scammers are asking for. Prove to me that you are a rep. from SS. The only way to contact me is through my e-mail address (bobveach16@yahoo.com) 1-800 telephone numbers do not work from my location I live outside of the U.S.

Hi, Katherine. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks, again.

Thanks for checking in with us, Mario. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks, again.

Hi C Lin. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.

Thanks for checking in with us, Alvin. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. Thanks, again.

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Today I received 4 separate calls on my cellphone with a recording saying that my SS number was compromised and that it would be suspended. One I answered, but it was a recording so I didn’t go further. The other three went to voicemail. One was from Sri Lanka, one from Denton Texas, the other 2 United States.

Today i received a phone message my Social Security number had been suspended. I assumed it was a scammer and called the number left in the message and it was never answered. I will block the number on my phone.

I have received 4 calls today from the “office of social security” from 4 different numbers:
714-989-9550
714-191-8849
302-608-9716
509-404-0608
All with the same recorded male voice.
Perhaps you can track down these robocallers and shut them down.

Thanks for letting us know, George. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.

To whom it may concern I have just received a phone call from this number 1888 827 8945 telling me I need to push one for help because my benefits are going to be suspended due to suspected activities of my number I hung up on them .I just want to let some one know

Thanks for letting us know, Carol. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps. Thanks, again.

We have received a couple of calls lately. Caller ID just says “800 service” and the calling number is 888-905-5387. Recording says they are calling from the “Department of Social Security” and our number will be suspended due to suspicious activity. A couple of warning signs: which number? Our household has 8. SSA does not call itself the “Department of” so it’s pretty obvious this is not a legitimate call. In addition, most federal agencies send snail mail if they need to contact you.

Hi John. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.

Hi Theresa. If you or anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.

I called Social Security Administration national toll free phone number…I the automated telephone system asked for my social security number that I gave….I was put on hold about 1 hour…however the female that finally answered my call wanted my full name including my middle name and my social security number…I provided each…I am always told they need the information to verify I am who I say I am…this particular call I was then placed on hold long time…same female never returned to the phone…she has my complete name, social security number

I I received a call on 8/31/2019 from this number (833)255-0645 I did not answer, a message was left that I was being contacted because there has been some suspicious activity with my social security number.

Hi Marrow. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.

Hi Robert. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.

Hi Joan. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.